Amphibian propulsion mechanism



April 5, 1955 w. c. BAKER ET AL AMPHIBIAN PROPULSION MECHANISM Fi led Nov. 10, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2.

FIG.3A.

FIG. 3.

INVENTORS WILLARD 0. BAKER WILLIAM NICHOLAS BY ATTORNEY April 5, 1955 w. c. BAKER E AL AMPHIBIAN PROPULSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1949 JNVENTORS; WILLARD 6. BAKER WILLIAM NIGI'IOLAS BY ATTOR N EY April 5, 1955 w. c. BAKER ET AL 2,705,470

AMPHIBIAN PROPULSION MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.$, WILLARD QBAKER WILLIAM NICHOLAS ATTORNEY United States Patent AMPHIBIAN PROPULSION MECHANISM Willard C. Baker, Jackson, Mich., and William Nicholas, Greenbelt, Md.

Application November 10, 1949, Serial No. 126,656

11 Claims. (Cl. 115--64) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The present invention relates to endless chain propellers, and more particularly to a propulsion mechanism control for amphibian craft.

Prior fluid impellers or propellers for track laying amphibian vehicles have two major disadvantages. First, they attempt to adapt fixed impellers to both fluid and land travel. This results in breakage and fouling when light weight thin section impellers are used, and in loss of effective propulsion when impellers were made heavy enough to avoid breakage. posed to attach fixed paddle members to the outside rim of an amphibian traction belt. This arrangement creates so much drag during the return travel of the belt that effective propulsion is critically diminished.

The invention of co-pending, concurrently filed application of Willard C. Baker for Amphibian Propulsion Mechanism, Serial Number 126,655, now Patent No. 2,680,421, avoids these and other disadvantages by providing a series of inwardly projecting fluid impeller or propeller blades of true hydrofoil section arranged on a traction belt between two spaced-apart series of outwardly projecting land treads. The present invention provides novel control means for the impeller blades similar to those described in said co-pending application.

One object of the present invention is to provide a combined track and impeller or propeller system for amphibian craft in which the angle of the impeller blades is automatically controlled by the operator.

A further object is to provide means for steering an amphibian craft by controlling the angle of the impeller blades during travel of the craft.

Other equally important objects and many of the advantages of the present invention become readily apparent from the following detailed description which illustrates preferred embodiments thereof when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings that diagrammatically represent in:

Fig. 1 a side elevational View, partly in vertical crosssection, of a portion of an endless traction belt embodying our novel impeller blade control.

Fig. 2 a rear elevational view thereof partly in vertical cross-section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a detail of the control mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3A a bottom view of the detail of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, of the main drive sprocket assembly of an amphibian craft, including our novel control mechanism.

Fig. 5 a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 an electrically driven power unit for the control mechanism of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 a modified power unit arranged for a pneumatic drive of the control mechanism of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3A inclusive a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising our novel impeller blade track sections 30, treads 40 and blade actuator means 65; in Figs. 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of our novel sprocket control 60 and in Figs. 6 and 7, preferred forms of power units for the blade control and main sprocket drive means.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3A inclusive the impeller blade 30 comprises side wall or web members 34, curved face 33 and foot members 26 as shown in Fig. 1 arranged Secondly, it has been pro- 2,705,470 Patented Apr. 5, 1955 to extend downwardly approximately to the diameter of bearing sleeve 37. Rubber bushing 38 is fitted in sleeve 37 and around shaft 39. Blade is held on sleeve 37 by means of clamp 21 and attaching means such as is illustrated by screws 22 in engagement with foot members 26 in holes 25.

Fixed to sleeve 37 are the pinion segments 65 which are arranged for limited reciprocating rotation with sleeve 37, bushing 38, and shaft 39 in the base portions 29 of tread or grouser members 40. Base portions 29 are held in spaced relationship by web member 36 as shown in Fi 2.

fhe endless belt assembly 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, also includes the connector links 41, track links 49 tongue and groove tread or grouser engagement shown at 47, track pins held in holes 46 by nuts or attaching means 52, all, as previously described in the aforesaid eopending application of Willard C. Baker.

Mounted on base portion 29 of each impeller blade track section 30, is rack guide housing 66 containing rack guide 67 and the top aperture 23 through which teeth 86 of actuator sprocket 85 travel as shown in Fig. 4. Rack member 62 is mounted for sliding reciprocating movement in guide 67 and is arranged so that the rack teeth 63 mesh with the teeth of pinion as shown in Fig. 1. The endless cable 61 is secured grapped in hole 64 of rack member 62 in fixed relationship therewith. This may be accomplished by welding or soldering or by taper or other suitable means such as clamp or bolts or the 1 e.

Rack member 62 is arranged so that aperture 56 therein as shown in Fig. 3A is positioned for engagement with teeth 86 of actuator sprocket 85 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. From the foregoing it will be seen that when tooth 86 engages hole 56 and contacts wall 54 therein, that rack member 62 will travel in that direction and cause rack teeth 63 to turn pinion 65 which then rotates blade 30 in the same direction. When the rotation of actuator sprocket 85 is reversed, tooth 86 will travel in the opposite direction and contact wall 55 of aperture 56. This will cause rack member 62 to travel in that direction and rack teeth 63 will reverse pinions 65. As 61 is an endless member such as a cable or chain, all of blades 30 in endless belt 20 will move in unison in response to the travel of actuator wheel 85.

It will be seen that the present invention is of great value in the operation of an amphibian craft afloat or ashore to regulate selectively the effective angle on radial adjustment of fluid impeller blades 30 for optimum results in varying depth of fluid, varying currents, varying wind drift, changes in displacement due to changes in cargo weight, and changes in ,viscosity of the fluid medium. By changes in angle of hydrofoil blades 30 in one belt 20 from angle of blades in the companion belt 20 the craft may be steered. To increase the surface area of the track while the vehicle is traveling through extremely viscous fluids such as mud, tundra, snow, or similar material, the impellers are so adjusted as to be radially moved to almost be parallel to the ground level or other angle appropriate to viscosity of the fluid medium.

As shown in Fig. 5 drive shaft 71 is mounted in bearing 72 held in annular flanged hub 73 which is held on hull by attaching means 74. Actuator rods 75 are fixed to actuator plate 77 and slide in bushings 79 in hull 70 and in guide ring bushings 76 in annular bracket 68 fixed to hull 70.

Actuator collar '78 is held in actuator plate 77 by engagement in annular slot 69. Affixed to actuator collar 78 is actuator sleeve 96 provided with spiral thread like grooves 97 arranged for slideably reciprocating spiral engagement with the spiral thread like lands or projections as indicated at 98.

The two opposed drive sprocket wheels 81 are mounted on drive sprocket hub 84 by attaching means 83. Hub 84 is fixed to drive sprocket plate 93 by attaching means 94, and plate 93 is affixed to and rotates with drive shaft 71. Affixed to plate 93 is bushing 95 provided With flange 58 and annular groove 57 which serves as a bearing in which actuator hub 89 may rotate. Hub 89 is provided with the spiral threads 98 as shown in Fig. 4, which engage grooves 97 on sleeve 96, hub 89 and sleeve 96 is arranged to provide clearance at 99 for the outer end of sleeve 96 and clearance at 79 for the inner end of sleeve 96, which is mounted to slide in limited longitudinal reciprocating movement on shaft 71.

Attached to the inner end of hub 89 are actuator sprocket spokes 87 by attaching means 91. The outer ends of spokes 87 are aflixed to actuator sprocket wheel 85 by attaching means 92. Hub 89 is arranged for limited reciprocating rotation on sleeve 96, and spokes 87 move in openings 88 in hub 84. Drive sprockets 81, are provided with teeth 82 adapted to engage the endless belt as shown in Fig. 4. Actuator sprocket 85 is provided with teeth 86, adapted to engage sockets 56, in rack members 62. Main drive shaft 71 rotates in bushing 72, plate 78, sleeve 96, and rotates with flange 95, plate 93, hub 84 and drive sprocket 81. Hub 84 carries spokes 87 and sprocket 85 while teeth 82 drive endless belts 20, and teeth 86 freely engage sockets 56. Actuator rods 75 may be reciprocated by an electrical unit designated generally as 80, Fig. 8, or by a pneumatic unit designated generally as 90, Fig. 7, and in either event, rods 75 impart to sprockets 85 rotation relative to the rotation of drive sprockets 81 in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Rods 75 slide in guides 76 and 79, and move actuator plate 77, actuator collar 78 and actuator sleeve 96 therewith. Threads 98 on hub 89 are thereby slideably engaged by the spiral grooves 97 and travel therein, causing hub 89 and spokes 87 to rotate independently of and relative to hub 84 by virtue of openings 88. This relative rotation causes teeth 86 of wheel 85 to engage end wall 55 or end wall 54 of socket 56 in rack member 62. This moves rack member 62 in guide 67 in housing 66, causing rack teeth 63 to rotate pinion 65. This rotates blades 30 on shaft 39 into a new radial position and by means of endless cable 61 all blades 30 in belt 20 are held in the new position, and in a like manner moved to a next adjusted position.

Fig. 6 represents a diagram of a preferred drive unit 80, comprising an electrical control and motor drive assembly 102, and a transmission and power take olf assembly 103, mounted in hull 70. Electrical assembly 102 comprises motors 106 and 107, a suitable well known synchronizer assembly 108, leads 109 and 110, and terminals 50 and 51, for connection to a usual source of electric power. Motor shafts 111 and 112 drive pinions 113 and 114, which engage racks 115 and 116 housed in yokes 117. Actuator rods 75 and 175 are fixed to racks 115 and 116 and are mounted for sliding reciprocating movement in bushings 118 and 119 in hull 70. Power unit 103 is connected to universal shafts 120 and 121 which drive main shafts 71 and 171 through bushings 122 and 123.

A like drive arrangement 90, for shafts 71 and 171, is shown in Fig. 7, which also illustrates in diagram, a pneumatic drive assembly 105, in place of the electrical assembly 102 of Fig. 6. In this modification pump 124 is connected by conduits 125 and 126 to valves 127 and 128, which control pistons 129 and 130 in cylinders 133 and 134 through conduits 131 and 132. Piston rods 135 and 136 are connected to actuator rods 75 and 175 and valves 127 and 128 are operated by levers 100 and 101 The single endless belt assembly 20 and its pair of drive sprockets 81 as shown in Fig. on one side of the craft,

-is duplicated on the other side of the craft as is customary in the art, and is preferably operated through duplicate actuator rods 175, and by duplicate main drive shaft 171, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The drives 80 or 90 are each arranged to drive the belts 20 on each side of the hull 70 concurrently or separately as is also customary in the art.

Synchronizer control assembly 108 is arranged to operate motors 106 and 107 concurrently or separately and valves 127 and 128 are arranged to be operated concurrently or separately by means of levers 100 and 101.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the effective angle of blades 30 in the belt assemblies 20 on each side of hull 70 may be changed in both belt assemblies concurrently or separately through the actuation of rods 75 and 175 as described herein.

This makes it possible during travel while afloat to steer the craft, and at the same time provide an additional speed control for the craft. During land travel the blades 30 may also be rotated back and forth to free the belts 20 from ice, mud, and other 0b tIL 9fi9l Related hereto are the following concurrently filed copending applications of: Willard C. Baker for Amphibian Propulsion Mechanism, Serial Number 126,655, now Patent No. 2,680,421; Emil S. Cigledy, for Deflector System, Serial Number 126,660; Edwin J. Eyring, for Deflector Control, Serial Number 126,653; and Edward I. Eyring for Deflector, Serial Number 126,654.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

While only preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, it is obvious that various modifications thereof are contemplated and may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, in a mechanism for propelling an amphibian craft through a fluid; a pair of traction belts; means to drive the belts; two spaced apart rows of outwardly projecting treads on each of said belts; and a series of pivotally mounted inwardly projecting fluidimpeller blades mounted between said rows of treads so that said blades will effectively engage the flow of said fluid and means operatively connected to said fluidimpeller blades to selectively vary the effective angle of said blades during the propulsion of said craft through said fluid.

2. In combination, in a fluid-borne amphibian craft, a mechanism for propelling said craft in said fluid: said mechanism including a pair of endless belt-like traction assemblies; means to drive the assemblies; two rows of spaced-apart outwardly projecting treads on the traction surface of each of said assemblies; a row of pivotally mounted fluid impelling blades projecting inwardly from the opposite inner surface of each of said assemblies and positioned between each two of said rows; operating means connected to the impeller blades for selectively changing the effective angle of said blades; and control means for said operating means mounted in said craft to selectively effect the change of said angle on each of said assemblies separately or on both of said assemblies concurrently; whereby said craft may be steered during propulsion of said craft in said fluid.

3. In a propulsion mechanism for amphibian craft, the combination that includes: an endless traction belt; a row of fluid impelling blades pivotally mounted on said belt, said blades having pinion teeth forming a part thereof; and means connected to the blades for changing the effective angle of said blades during propulsion of said craft, said last mentioned means being a power means to drive a rack in contact with the pinion teeth.

4. In a mechanism for a propelling amphibian fluidborne craft, the combination that includes; an endless traction belt having a row of fluid impelling blades pivotally mounted on and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said belt: said blades having pinion teeth forming a part thereof; and means connected to said blades for changing the effective angle of said blades during the propulsion of said craft, said last mentioned means being a power means to drive a rack in contact with the pinion teeth.

5. In combination, in a mechanism for propelling an amphibian craft in a fluid: a pair of endless belt-like drive assemblies; a series of fluid impeller blades pivotally mounted on each of said assemblies; pinion teeth integral with said impeller blades; a rack in contact with and to drive the pinion teeth; power means to energize the rack; and control means for the power means whereby the elfective angle of said blades may be changed during propulsion of said craft.

6. In combination, in a mechanism for propelling an amphibian craft in a fluid: a pair of endless belt-like drive assemblies; a series of fluid impeller blades pivotally mounted on and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of each of said assemblies; pinion teeth integral with said impeller blades; a rack in contact with and to drive the pinion teeth; power means to energize the rack; and control means for the power means whereby the effective angle of said blades may be changed during propulsion of said craft.

7. In combination, in a mechanism for propelling an amphibian craft in a fluid, a pair of endless belt-like drive assemblies; a series of fluid impeller blades pivotally mounted on each of said assemblies; operating means connected to the impeller blades for selectively changing the effective angle of said blades; and control means for said operating means arranged to selectively effect the change of said angle in each of said series separately or in both of said series concurrently, whereby said craft may be steered during propulsion in said fluid.

8. ln combination in a mechanism for propelling an amphibian craft in a fluid; a pair of endless belt-like drive assemblies; a sprocket drive unit for each of said assemblies; an endless series of fluid impeller blades pivotally mounted on and inwardly projecting from the inner surface of each of said assemblies; operating means connected to the impeller blades and arranged to selectively change the eflective angle of said blades; means for applying power separately or concurrently to said units; and control means arranged to selectively effect the change of said angle in each of said series separately or in both series concurrently; whereby said craft may be steered during propulsion in said fluid.

9. In combination in an amphibian craft, a pair of endless belt-like drive assemblies, a sprocket drive for each of said assemblies, power means for the drive sprockets, a series of fluid impeller blades pivotally mounted on and extending inwardly from the inner surface of each of said assemblies, pinion teeth integral with the impeller blades, slidable racks in contact with the pinion teeth on each impeller blade, an actuator sprocket to drive the racks, an actuator drive means connected to the actuator sprocket, and manually operated control means for said actuator drive means whereby the eflective angle of the impeller blades may be changed.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said actuator sprocket is positioned parallel to and mounted for rotation independently of said drive sprocket.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein each slidable rack has a hole therein for receiving the actuator sprocket teeth, the angle at which said teeth enter the holles determining the amount of slide imparted to the rac References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,404,490 Hait July 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 647,798 Germany July 13, 1937 

